Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Baton Rouge, LA
VS
Tacoma, WA
🏆 Baton Rouge leads 15 of 23 categories
Baton Rouge
Louisiana
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,155
Violent Crime Index
270⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
225,500 ✓ Larger
Tacoma
Washington
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$79,085 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
280⚠ High
Population
219,234
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Baton Rouge, LA
Pros
Homes cost $198k less ($217,700 vs $415,300)
Rent averages $479/mo less ($1,010 vs $1,489)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Tacoma
3% less violent crime than Tacoma
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 61°F vs 48°F
Cons
Median income trails Tacoma by $28,930/yr
Violent crime (1027.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (5852.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.6% vs 5.4%)
Tacoma, WA
Pros
Households earn $28,930 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.2 pts lower (5.4%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 91°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $415,300
Higher rents — median is $1,489/mo
Violent crime (1063.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Baton Rouge
Key Differences at a Glance
Baton Rouge
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Baton Rouge
Violent Crime
3% lower
1027.7 vs 1063.0 per 100k
Baton Rouge
Median Home Value
$198k less
$217,700 vs $415,300
Baton Rouge
Summer Heat
13.8°F warmer
July avg high 90.6°F vs 76.8°F
Tacoma
Median Income
$28,930
$79,085 vs $50,155/yr
Tacoma
Unemployment
3.2 pp lower
5.4% vs 8.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Baton Rouge, LA | Tacoma, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $217,700 ✓ Lower | $415,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,010 ✓ Lower | $1,489⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,155 | $79,085 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.5 min ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% | 12.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 274⚠ High ✓ Safer | 275⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 270⚠ High ✓ Safer | 280⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 279⚠ High | 267⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.4% ✓ Higher | 32.8% |
| High School or Higher | 87.5% | 90.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | East Baton Rouge Parish | Tacoma School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.7°F ✓ Warmer | 48.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.6°F ✓ Warmer | 76.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 67.5" | 40.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 5.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 225,500 ✓ Larger | 219,234 |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.9% | 56.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.4% ✓ More | 19.7% |
| Over 65 | 14.3% ✓ More | 14.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Baton Rouge's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Tacoma's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Baton Rouge is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Baton Rouge leads 15 of 23 categories. Baton Rouge wins 15 and Tacoma wins 8. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Baton Rouge to Tacoma or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($217,700 vs $415,300 median home), income ($50,155 vs $79,085), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Baton Rouge, LA and Tacoma, WA are about 2,025 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.